Apparatus for the mass production of cast articles



Sept. 5, 19330 J. WILBERZ 1,925,390

' APPARATUS FOR THE MASS PRODUCTION OF CAST ARTICLES Filed Oct. 29, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l .3% HIM Agovrmys Sept 5 was WILBERZ 1,9255% APPARATUS FOR THE MASS PRODUCTION OF CAST ARTICLES Filed Oct. 29, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 V 4a 4 Ft 4 PF F 3 nvewm vatfAlVli fi 5 1/1 11. GER-Z Patented Sept. 5, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR. THE MASS PRODUCTION OF CAST narrows Johannes Wilberz, Hilden, Germany 11 Claims. (01. 2220) The object of the present invention is to provide a novel and efficient apparatus for the mass production of cast articles which are used in large quantities.

According to the improved process, the upper and lower boxes located one over the other in pairs are carried on the upper run of a horizontal conveyor device, as for example a conveyor chain, driven intermittently, which passes between the columns of a vertically acting press, close to the moulding press, while the pattern plate rests on a carriage frame movable transversely to this conveyor path, the path of this carriage frame crossing the conveyor path in the perpendicular centre line of the press. By means of a lifting device preferably arranged to oscillate, the upper box located nearest to the press is raised and placed on the pattern plate, the corresponding lower box is then filled with sand and by the forward movement of the conveyor chain is brought to the correct working position in the press. The upper box resting on the pattern plate and simultaneously filled with sand, is then brought with this plate by means of the carriage into the working position over the lower box, whereupon the press is put into operation and the sand filling in the two boxes is compressed. The upper box, together with the pattern plate, which after the return of the press plunger rise automatically from the lower box, is then brought back by means of the carriage frame into its previous position. The lower box is moved forward out of the press by the next movement of the conveyor chain, and by means of a lifting device, the upper box is raised in front of the pattern plate and is placed on the lower box after cores have if necessary been inserted therein, and moved forward with it whereupon the casting is made in the mould. Having reached the end of the upper run of the conveyor, the pairs of moulding boxes slide down on to the lower chain loop, are carried back thereon and are emptied at the front end on passing over to the upper runof the conveyor where the cycle recommences.

At the press by the use of two pattern plates and carriage frames, two moulders can use the- An embodiment of the novel apparatus is shown as an example in the accompanying drawings.

Figs. 1 and 2 show diagrammatically in vertical longitudinal section' and in plan view respectively, the improved apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section on ABv of Fig. 2, together with an elevation of the press. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section through the upper and lower boxes with the pattern plate located between them.

Between the columns 2 of the press 1 extends fected intermittently by the piston rod of a cylinder 6 located horizontally in the vertical centre plane between the two chains, and which engages I by means of catches 7 behind the link rods 5 and draws forward the chains by one link division during each double stroke. vice can be driven by water under pressure, compressed air, or the like, and is controlled by hand.

In practice empty mould boxes 32 one upon the other in pairs are arranged upon the conveyor device, the lower box of each pair being connected by, hook-shaped loops 33 with the link rods 5 of the chain, and travel over the chain conveyor 8, said pairs of boxes successively reach ing a point in front of the press as the conveyor is intermittently advanced by the piston rod of the cylinder 6. At this stage, by means of a lifting device 10 hinged to and adapted to oscillate about one of the press columns 2, the top box 0 of each successive pair is raised from the lower box u, swung overthe pattern model plate m and after being properly centered is lowered on to said plate m. The pattern plate m rests on .a travelling frame 11 which runs on horizontal rails 12 arranged transversely to the conveyor chain. The travelling frame 11, with the top box 0 and plate m, is then pushed between the columns 2 under the press plunger, the arrangement being such that the travelling frame 11 is sufliciently high to permit the pattern plate m to pass over the lower box it which in the meantime like the top box 0 has been filled with sand and has been brought by a movement of the conveyor device already into the working position under the press plunger. In order that on the stroke of the press the travelling frame, pattern plate and top box can drop to such an extent that they fit firmly on the lower box, the rails 12 are divided to provide a separate track section 13 inside the press columns and suspended on carriers 14 which are supported by double levers 15 having. counter- This actuating deweights 16. The levers 15 are hinged in a suit-. able manner on to the press frame.

If now the press plate 1'? is lowered, it presses the sand in the.top box downwards against the pattern plate m and in turn presses the latter against the sand of the bottom box firmly resting under the press on the chain path, the top box and pattern plate first sinking with the carrier frame 11 and track section 13 and then resting firmly on each other and on the bottom box, whereby the sand in both boxes is firmly pressed to a sufiicient degree against the pattern and the outer walls. After the press plate 17 has again been raised, the pattern plate m and the top box 0 resting on it are raised by the counterweight 16 from the associated bottom box u, the track section 13 with the carrier frame rising to the level of the outer rails 12. The carrier frame 11 is drawn outwards and the top box 0 is raised from the pattern plate m by means of a second oscillating lifting device 10 and placed on its associated bottom box 11. which in the meantime has been shifted by a further movement of the conveyor device to a position behind the press and in which if necessary cores have been inserted, and the pair of boxes now travels intermittently with the conveyor chains, the casting of the mould taking place.. In the meantime, the next pair of mould boxes is passed under the press with a second pattern plate located opposite the first pattern plate. In this way, no interruption of the moulding operation takes place and the pairs of mould boxes can follow each other directly on the chain path since while one moulder carries out the pressing operation, a second opposite moulder fills the next bottom and top boxes with sand.

As soon as a given pair of mould boxes with finished casting reaches the end of the chain path, it slides down the path 18, said pair of mould boxes being held during this operation by the hooks on the bottom box of the particular pair and is carried forward by the conveyor chain up to the front pair of chain wheels where it slides over a grid 9 which projects beyond the axis of the front pair of chain wheels. When the corresponding link bolt to which is attached the bottom box of said pair, has run on to the front chain wheels, the bottom box with its front end passes over hooks 19 which are suspended from levers 20. These levers 20 are pivoted about the axis 21 of the chain wheels, "and are oscillated by latch hooks22 which engage and are carried along by the chain link bolts 5 until, on striking against wedge shape runner pieces 23, they are disengaged. By this oscillation of the lever 20, the

associated bottom and top boxes of each pair are lifted towards the upper run of the conveyor. During this movement, two lateral abutments 24 pivoted about axes, are pressed outwards and after the passage of the pair of boxes they swing back again. The moulding boxes then fall after the release of the latch hooks 22 on to these abutments 24, the shaking of the moulding boxes causing'them to be emptied. The sand and castings are conveyed away by means of known devices and the empty moulding boxes travel on to be used again.

The mould boxes and pattern plates used in the improved process are made in any particular manner necessary for the new process.

The upper edges 25 and 26 of the box frame and their connecting ribs are not made flat like the lower edges, but are bevelled to a sharp edge so that no sand can adhere between this and the pattern and press plate, which sand would prevent the tight pressing on to each other of the said parts. The centering of the boxes opposite each other takes place easily by means of pins 27, 27' which are guided between pairs of rollers carried on the upper box. The rollers 28 on one side have grooves 29 between which fit the centering pins 2'7 of round section, while on the opposite side the rollers 30 are cylindrical and the pins fit between by flattening of the round section. The boxes on becoming hot by the pouring in of the molten metal can then easily expand, and the top box can be easily raised and again placed down.

The pattern plate is made hollow and provided laterally with two like axial hollow pins 31, by which it is carried and adapted to oscillate in the carrier frame 11. On the upper side is carried the pattern for the top box, and on the bottom side the pattern for the bottom box. Vibrators, heating resistances, magnets, and the like, can be fitted in its interior. The latter magnets 34 in such case serve to hold the suspended core supports for the lower box, or screws, and the like, which are to be embedded in the casting. The carrying in of the necessary air pipes and current cables takes place through the hollow trunnion 31.

It may also be pointed out that instead of the chain conveyor, a suitably arranged travelling table of known character may be used.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for the production of casting moulds in mould boxes, comprising a horizontal chain conveyor consisting of two endless'chains, a vertical press having frame columns, the said chains passing between said columns, a device intermittently driving the chains, a track arranged perpendicularly to the chain conveyor, the axis of which track intersects the chain conveyor in the vertical centre axis of the press, a travelling frame running on said track and supporting a pattern plate, lifting means for raising and lowering the upper box, means for raising and lowering the'said track within the press, a slide device for lowering the pairs of boxes at the rear end of the chain conveyor and a device for raising, tilting and emptying the pairs of boxes at the front end of the chain conveyor.

2. Apparatus for the production of casting moulds in mould boxes, comprising a horizontal chain conveyor consisting of two endless chains, a vertical press having frame columns, the said chains passing between said columns, a device intermittently driving the chains, a track arranged perpendicularly to the chain conveyor, the axis of which track intersects the chain conveyor in the vertical centre axis of. the press, a travelling frame running on said track and supporting a pattern plate, lifting means for raising and lowering the upper box, means for raising and lowering the said track within the press, a slide device for lowering the pairs of boxes at the rear end of the chain conveyor, a device for raising, tilting and emtpying the pairs of boxes at the front end of the chain conveyor and booklike projections formed on the lower boxes adapted to engage hinge bolts of the endless chains, the lower boxes being swung around said bolts at each end of the conveyor.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the track for the travelling frame comprises spaced rails extending through the space between the press columns, the sections of said rails between the columns being mounted on counterweighted levers having counterweights sumcient to support the said sections together with the travelling frame, pattern plate and upper box when these are disposed thereon.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the device for raising, tilting and emptying the pairs of boxes at the front end of the chain conveyor comprises a pair of levers pivoted at their one ends on the shaft of the front chain wheels, a pair of hooks suspended on the other ends of the said levers, a pair of counter hooks each hinged to one of the levers of the pair and adapted to engage behind the hinge bolts of the endless chains, fixedly disposed projections adapted to disengage said counter hooks from said hinge bolts after a predetermined travel of the latter, and bars adapted to receive the boxes when they are released by the suspended hooks, said bars extending into the path of the mould boxes and being adapted to swing upwardly about pivots disposed laterally of the conveyor frame.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein theupper edges of the mould box frames and of their intermediate ribs are made with sharp edges.

6. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the upper edges of the mould box frames and of their intermediate ribs are made with sharp edges and the mould boxes are provided externally with pairs of rollers adapted to co-operate with centering bolts.

7. Apparatus for the production of casting moulds in mould boxes, comprising a horizontal chain conveyor consisting of two endless chains,

' a vertical press having frame columns, the said chains passing. between said columns, a device intermittently driving the chains, a track arranged perpendicularly to the chain conveyor, the axis of which track intersects the chain conveyor in the vertical centre axis of the press, a travelling frame running on said trackand supporting a pattern plate, lifting means for raising and lowering the upper box, means for raising and lowering the said track within the press, a slide device for lowering the pairs of boxes at the rear end of the chain conveyor, a device for raising, tilting and' emptying the pairs of boxes at the front end of the chain conveyor and hook-like projections formed on the lower boxes adapted to engage hinge bolts of the endless chains, the lower boxes being swung around said bolts at each end of the chain conveyor, mould box frames, the upper edges of which and of their intermediate ribs are made with sharp edges, and centering bolts engaged between the circumferences of pairs of rollers which are fitted laterally on the outer walls of the mould boxes, the pair of rollers on one side of amould box being provided with grooves which enclose the round section of the centering bolts, while the opposite pair of rollers have cylindrical circumferences and bear on flattened surfaces of the round centering bolts.

8. Apparatus for the production of casting moulds in mould boxes comprising a horizontal chain conveyor consisting of two endless chains carried through between the columns of a vertical press, a device intermittently driving the chain, a track arranged perpendicularly to the chain conveyor the axis of which track intersects the chain conveyor in the perpendicular center axis of the press, a travelling frame running on said track, a pattern plate carried on said frame, and a lifting device for lifting and setting down the upper box constituted by swinging cranes hinged to the columns of the press.-

9. Apparatus for the production of casting moulds in mould boxes comprising a horizontal chain conveyor consisting of two endless chains carried through between the columns of a vertical press, a device intermittently driving the chain, a track arranged perpendicularly to the chain conveyor, the axis of which track intersects the chain conveyor in the perpendicular center axis of the press, a travelling frame running on said track, a pattern plate carried on said frame, a lifting device for lifting and setting down the upper box, a device for lifting and lowering the said track within the press, a. slide device for lowering the pairs of boxes at the rear end of the chain conveyor, a device for raising, tilting and emptying the pairs ofboxes at the front end of the chain conveyor, a second travelling frame disposed opposite the first-mentioned travelling frame, a second pattern plate carried on said second-mentioned travelling frame and oscillating cranes for. raising the top boxes hinged on all four columns of the press.

10. In a casting apparatus of the kind described, the combination of a press, a conveyor, mould boxes located one upon the other at spaced intervals on said conveyor, means for intermittently advancing said conveyor and mould boxes relatively to said press, a track extending transversely of said conveyor in operative relation -to said press, a travelling frame movable on said track, a pattern plate carried by said frame, lifting means for raising the upper box of each pair of mould boxes and for lowering said upper box on to said pattern plate, said travelling frame being movable to 11 bring said pattern plate and upper box into registry with the associated lower box of said pair and into operative relation to said press, means for lowering the pairs of boxes at the one end of said conveyor beyond said press, and means for raising and tilting said pairs of boxes at the opposite end of said conveyor.

11. In a casting apparatus of the kind described, the combination of a press, a conveyor, mould boxes located one upon the other at spaced intervals on said conveyor,means for intermittently advancing said conveyor and mould boxes relatively to said press, a travelling frame movable into and out of operative relation to said press, a hollow pattern plate comprising upper and lower members, hollow pins whereby said pattern plate is mounted on said plate. and constituting conduits for supplying air to the interior of said pattern plate and for leading electric conducting wires thereto, the interior of said pattern plate constituting a chamber for the accommodation of vibrators, heating resistances and the like, cores carried by the bottom member of said pattern plate and extending downwardly therefrom, and magnets mounted on said bottom member interiorly of said pattern plate for holding said cores in place thereon.

J OHANNES WILBERZ. 

